Huntington Beach examining playgrounds for possible fixes

Huntington Beach city staff is evaluating the play equipment at more than 70 parks, including one whose playground condition prompted residents to start an online petition urging the city to fix it.

Mayor Mike Posey said in a Facebook post this week that staff will determine the age of the playground pieces, assess their condition and provide that information to the Community Services Commission in an effort to establish priorities for replacement and repair projects.

The commission is scheduled to review the list Feb. 14, then issue recommendations to the City Council, which could consider the matter in March and direct funds as it sees fit, Posey said.

Posey said Peter Green Park is on the list. That facility, a mile north of City Hall, was at the center last year of the “Clean Up Our Parks & Playgrounds” petition at change.org that has gathered more than 1,100 signatures.

Users of Peter Green Park noted how a slide and swings were missing for some time and that trash had accumulated but wasn’t being picked up. The slide and swings have since been replaced.

Posey has suggested the petition’s organizer, Sherri Hellbusch, start a nonprofit that could raise funds for Peter Green Park. He also said the city has a $35-million backlog of deferred maintenance and projects for the city’s park system.

bradley.zint@latimes.com

Twitter: @BradleyZint